Cincinnati Contractor Registration Renewal

At a glance

Who needs it

All contractors performing work in the City of Cincinnati limits, under Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 1106 (ordinance 42-2011). Crane operators and crane equipment must be registered too. The City can't issue building permits until all applicable contractors are registered

Who's exempt

The owner of a 1-, 2- or 3-family dwelling regulated by the Residential Code of Ohio who personally does the work on the premises and will occupy the home for at least one year after the work is complete; maintenance work described in Cincinnati Building Code 1101.17 done by the property owner; and an architect, professional engineer or other person the Ohio Revised Code requires to meet standards of competency or experience, while acting only within the scope of their license or registration

Registration types

Home improvement contractor, building construction contractor (each with a specialty, or listed as a general contractor if left blank), and OCILB contractor licensed in electrical, mechanical, plumbing, hydronic or refrigeration work. Cranes are registered too

Expires

A City registration for a state-licensed contractor is valid until the state license expires. Other contractors go by the expiration date on their City registration

Renewal window

The checklist says you can renew without penalty any time during the 60 days before the expiration date

Fee

$131.25 a year: $125.00 plus a 3% technology surcharge, a 1% financial recovery fee and a 1% training surcharge. All contractor registration fees are non-refundable

Late fee

The City's registration checklist (revised July 2018) lists $78.75 for a renewal application (or corrected documents City staff asked for) submitted within 30 days after the registration's expiration date

Reactivation

The checklist says a registration not renewed within 30 days after its expiration date needs a reactivation fee of $131.25 a year, plus the $131.25 registration fee (a minimum of one year's renewal)

Insurance

New and renewal registrations need a certificate of liability insurance from an insurer licensed to do business in Ohio, with at least the limits the City's checklist sets. Crane registrations have higher limits

Other documents

If they apply to you: proof of Ohio workers' compensation coverage, and a copy of your state license if you're an OCILB contractor

How to renew

Send all your registration paperwork in a single packet. Pay in person or by mail at the Permit Center, Contractor Registration, 805 Central Ave., Suite 500, Cincinnati, OH 45202, with checks payable to "City of Cincinnati", or email all forms to ccpbpermitcenter@cincinnati-oh.gov and a representative will contact you for payment once it's processed

Processing time

The checklist gives at least 10 days for a complete application. An incomplete or wrong packet may be returned for corrections, and a resubmitted packet starts the processing time again. It lists same-day processing for an extra $210.00, and requests should be in by 1:00 p.m. on the day you apply (it adds its surcharges to all contractor registration fees)

Mid-term changes

The checklist lists a $78.00 fee for changes to a valid registration, such as reassigning it, adding, changing or substituting an insurance company, adding or deleting authorized signers, or adding, changing or deleting an OCILB license holder

Contact

Contractor Registration Section, 513-352-3271, option 1

This guide covers the City of Cincinnati's contractor registration only; work outside the city may fall under other rules. Ohio's Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, hydronic and refrigeration contractors: see the Ohio OCILB guide.

How to renew

1. Find the expiration date on your City registration (for a state-licensed contractor it's the state license's).
2. In the 60 days before it, ask your insurance agent for a current certificate of liability insurance from an insurer licensed in Ohio, and gather proof of Ohio workers' comp and a copy of your state license if they apply.
3. Send the whole packet at once, by mail, in person or to ccpbpermitcenter@cincinnati-oh.gov, and pay the $131.25 a year.
4. Leave time: the City's checklist gives at least 10 days to process a complete application, and the City can't issue your building permits until you're registered.

Deadline checklist

• 60 days before expirationThe 60-day window for renewing without penalty starts. Ask your agent for a current certificate of liability insurance.
• Well before expirationSend the complete packet and pay $131.25 a year. The City's checklist gives at least 10 days to process a complete application.
• Up to 30 days after expirationThe City's checklist lists a $78.75 late fee for renewals submitted now.
• More than 30 days after expirationThe checklist says the registration needs a reactivation fee of $131.25 a year plus the $131.25 registration fee.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions